GCU to host high school football doubleheader Dec. 23

Photos: Arizona high school football championship media day – 2017

Chandler head coach Shaun Aguano at the AIA championship football media day on Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2017, at Famous Dave's BBQ in Mesa, Ariz.
Carlos Salcedo/azcentral sports

Photos: Arizona high school football championship media day – 2017

Santa Cruz Valley head coach Rishard Davis at the AIA championship football media day on Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2017, at Famous Dave's BBQ in Mesa, Ariz.
Carlos Salcedo/azcentral sports

Photos: Arizona high school football championship media day – 2017

Salpointe Catholic's Matteo Mele at the AIA championship football media day on Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2017, at Famous Dave's BBQ in Mesa, Ariz.
Carlos Salcedo/azcentral sports

Photos: Arizona high school football championship media day – 2017

Saguaro's head coach Jason Mohns introduces his players at the AIA championship football media day on Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2017, at Famous Dave's BBQ in Mesa, Ariz.
Carlos Salcedo/azcentral sports

Photos: Arizona high school football championship media day – 2017

Saguaro's head coach Jason Mohns and his players at the AIA championship football media day on Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2017, at Famous Dave's BBQ in Mesa, Ariz.
Carlos Salcedo/azcentral sports

Photos: Arizona high school football championship media day – 2017

Notre Dame Prep's head coach George Prelock and his players at the AIA championship football media day on Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2017, at Famous Dave's BBQ in Mesa, Ariz.
Carlos Salcedo/azcentral sports

Photos: Arizona high school football championship media day – 2017

Notre Dame Prep's head coach George Prelock and his players at the AIA championship football media day on Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2017, at Famous Dave's BBQ in Mesa, Ariz.
Carlos Salcedo/azcentral sports

Photos: Arizona high school football championship media day – 2017

Centennial's head coach Richard Taylor and his players at the AIA championship football media day on Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2017, at Famous Dave's BBQ in Mesa, Ariz.
Carlos Salcedo/azcentral sports

Photos: Arizona high school football championship media day – 2017

Perry's head coach Preston Jones and his players at the AIA championship football media day on Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2017, at Famous Dave's BBQ in Mesa, Ariz.
Carlos Salcedo/azcentral sports

Photos: Arizona high school football championship media day – 2017

Perry's head coach Preston Jones and his players at the AIA championship football media day on Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2017, at Famous Dave's BBQ in Mesa, Ariz.
Carlos Salcedo/azcentral sports

Photos: Arizona high school football championship media day – 2017

Chandler's head coach Shaun Aguano and his players at the AIA championship football media day on Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2017, at Famous Dave's BBQ in Mesa, Ariz.
Carlos Salcedo/azcentral sports

Photos: Arizona high school football championship media day – 2017

Thatcher's head coach Sean Hinton and his players at the AIA championship football media day on Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2017, at Famous Dave's BBQ in Mesa, Ariz.
Carlos Salcedo/azcentral sports

Photos: Arizona high school football championship media day – 2017

Perry's D'shayne James being interviewed by 12news' Bruce Cooper at the AIA championship football media day on Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2017, at Famous Dave's BBQ in Mesa, Ariz.
Carlos Salcedo/azcentral sports

Photos: Arizona high school football championship media day – 2017

Saguaro's Max Massingale being interviewed by azprep spotlight's Kelsey Perry at the AIA championship football media day on Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2017, at Famous Dave's BBQ in Mesa, Ariz.
Carlos Salcedo/azcentral sports

Photos: Arizona high school football championship media day – 2017

Perry's head coach Preston Jones and Brock Purdy being interviewed by azpreps365 at the AIA championship football media day on Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2017, at Famous Dave's BBQ in Mesa, Ariz.
Carlos Salcedo/azcentral sports

Photos: Arizona high school football championship media day – 2017

Saguaro's head coach Jason Mohns being interviewed by by azprep spotlight's Kelsey Perry at the AIA championship football media day on Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2017, at Famous Dave's BBQ in Mesa, Ariz.
Carlos Salcedo/azcentral sports

Photos: Arizona high school football championship media day – 2017

Perry's Brock Purdy being interviewed by 12news' Bruce Cooper at the AIA championship football media day on Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2017, at Famous Dave's BBQ in Mesa, Ariz.
Carlos Salcedo/azcentral sports

Photos: Arizona high school football championship media day – 2017

Casteel's football players being interviewed by azpreps365 at the AIA championship football media day on Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2017, at Famous Dave's BBQ in Mesa, Ariz.
Carlos Salcedo/azcentral sports

Photos: Arizona high school football championship media day – 2017

Salpointe Catholic's Matteo Mele being interviewed by by azprep spotlight's Kelsey Perry at the AIA championship football media day on Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2017, at Famous Dave's BBQ in Mesa, Ariz.
Carlos Salcedo/azcentral sports

Photos: Arizona high school football championship media day – 2017

Thatcher's head coach Sean Hinton being interviewed by Sportz360AZ's Haley Stesiak at the AIA championship football media day on Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2017, at Famous Dave's BBQ in Mesa, Ariz.
Carlos Salcedo/azcentral sports

Photos: Arizona high school football championship media day – 2017

Casteel's Gunner Cruz being interviewed by 12news' Bruce Cooper at the AIA championship football media day on Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2017, at Famous Dave's BBQ in Mesa, Ariz.
Carlos Salcedo/azcentral sports

Photos: Arizona high school football championship media day – 2017

Casteel's Gunner Cruz being interviewed by 12news' Bruce Cooper at the AIA championship football media day on Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2017, at Famous Dave's BBQ in Mesa, Ariz.
Carlos Salcedo/azcentral sports

Photos: Arizona high school football championship media day – 2017

Chandler head coach Shaun Aguano being interviewed by azpreps365 at the AIA championship football media day on Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2017, at Famous Dave's BBQ in Mesa, Ariz.
Carlos Salcedo/azcentral sports

Photos: Arizona high school football championship media day – 2017

Notre Dame Prep's Jake Smith being interviewed by azcentral at the AIA championship football media day on Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2017, at Famous Dave's BBQ in Mesa, Ariz.
Carlos Salcedo/azcentral sports

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Grand Canyon University scrapped the idea of starting a football program long ago, but it will host a couple of football games on Dec. 23 at its soccer stadium.

And Chandler has a chance to play in it – again.

The GEICO State Champions Bowl Series decided to change locations to Phoenix, according to USA Today. ESPNU will televise the Dec. 23 double-header at 4 and 7:30 p.m., Arizona time. Teams are selected based on USA Today Sports' Super 25 rankings.

If Chandler beats Gilbert Perry on Dec. 2 for the 6A state championship, it would most likely be invited to play in the double-header against a state champion among five other states up for consideration: Florida, Georgia, Maryland, Utah and Washington. The teams won't be announced until mid-December.

Chandler coach Shaun Aguano said he loves having the bowl game in Phoenix.

“The state championship is the only thing we are motivated for,” Aguano said. “That will just be a bonus.”

Chandler beat Valdosta (Ga.) 44-24 in last year's game at the Dallas Cowboys' headquarters in Frisco, Texas.

Chandler (10-2) has not lost since falling to Phoenix Mountain Pointe in September.

If Chandler loses, Peoria Centennial, which is playing Scottsdale Notre Dame Prep on Dec. 2 for the 5A title, would be considered. Centennial was ranked as high as No. 12 in the nation by USA Today after beating national power Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) St. Thomas Aquinas 12-0 this season. After it lost the final game of the regular season, 21-19 to Peoria Liberty, Centennial fell out of the Super 25. Centennial avenged that loss, 42-37, in last week's semifinals.

It would seem likely that an Arizona team would be invited, because it would help fill GCU's soccer stadium, which has 3,000 chair-back seats with a platform on the east side and grass on the other side. There has more more than 6,000 fans in the stadium for a soccer game, GCU Athletic Director Mike Vaught said.

As far as hosting future Arizona Interscholastic Association football playoff games, Vaught said that it is uncertain because of NCAA rules.

But for these State Champions Bowl Series games, GCU's soccer stadium appears to be a fit for the kind of attendance anticipated.

Bye bye

While most coaches like the idea of having an off week before playing in the state championship, Centennial coach Richard Taylor would rather play this weekend.

"I would just as soon go," he said.

This basically is the third week off this season for Centennial, counting the week in mid-October when Phoenix Sierra Linda canceled its game against the Coyotes because it didn't have enough healthy players and felt it would not have been safe to play.

"Once you get going, I think it's better to keep pushing," Taylor said. "You get that off week, you give them a day off, and when they come back they're a little sluggish. You figure out there are cartoons on after school."

Jump start

The last time Gilbert Perry played Chandler, the Pumas were coming off their week off. That weekend, the program was devastated by the news of junior varsity player Brayden Mason drowning in a lake.

In addition, Chandler district schools were on fall break. Practices were flat and Perry came out flat, as Chandler rolled to a 55-27 victory, a game that mark the return of quarterback Jacob Conover and wide receiver Gunner Romney from injuries.

"It was definitely a challenge, but I don't think that was the cause (for the lopsided loss)," Perry coach Preston Jones said of Mason's death. "I'm sure it weighed on them."

Perry senior quarterback Brock Purdy, who had his worse game against Chandler (15 of 25, 192 yards, two TDs; 79 rushing yards on 21 carries) said that was an emotionally tough week.

"I felt like there wasn't really that motivation and driving force," Purdy said. "Now that we have the whole school and support and eyes on us, big game coming up, state championship, that's enough motivation."

Bemis blueprint

Scottsdale Notre Dame has a chance to finish unbeaten for the first time since 2008, when the Saints won their last state championship. Scot Bemis was the head coach then. It was the second of back-to-back crowns for the Saints. Bemis died from lung cancer in January 2012.

First-year Notre Dame head coach George Prelock was on the sideline that day Notre Dame won state as a 28-year-old assistant. He said he is using those memories, even following how Bemis did things during a bye week between the semifinals and final, to get his players ready for Centennial in Tucson.

"We had a similar two weeks to prepare and I took a lot of what Scot did to prepare," Prelock said. "You're not burning out the kids, but at the same time you're having good practices. Thinking about him, it's kind of nostalgic, all of this."